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Another day another day of camp. Camp is again at 4:45 today.
http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2014/08/backup_quarterback_battle.html
Syracuse, N.Y. —Through four practices, Syracuse hasn't made much headway in the backup quarterback battle, according to quarterbacks coach Tim Lester.
Between current competitors redshirt freshman Mitch Kimble, who entered camp with a slight lead, classmate Austin Wilson and true freshman AJ Long — freshman Alin Edouard is expected to join once he returns from a family/personal obligation — no one has stepped up yet.
"It's been up and down," Lester said. "The first two days I was really disappointed with all three of them. I didn't think any one of them really took a lead. I was really hoping someone would come out of the blocks. None of them did.
"Day 3 they all played really, really well. And Day 4, we'll see. I haven't graded the film yet."
Lester said that the key to improvement for all of them is mental understanding. The repetitions of reading defenses and going through progressions will help the actions become second nature.
"It's all between the ears," Lester says.
Beyond that, he gave a quick assessment of each of the three backup contenders currently in camp.
Lester praised Kimble's intelligence, which could be the key to becoming the frontrunner for the spot. He regularly scores well on Lester's tests and is capable of making most throws. He's also healthy again after a lower-back injury kept him sidelined for the first half of spring ball.
On Monday, Kimble said he's emphasizing using his legs better when he throws. Lester emphasized finding consistency.
"I need to see the consistency in his motion," Lester said. "When he's thinking, his technique goes to hell in a handbag. And then he's not as accurate with the ball.
"When it grooves, he's not thinking and plays comfortably, dropping back to throw the ball, it's pretty. He can do it. I know he can think through a lot of offense so I think we could run a lot of offense if he ever had to go in.
Lester said Wilson had a slow start to camp, but has come on in the last two days. He's making better first reads.
Wilson said on Monday that one of his focuses in camp is to gradually make each read faster.
And Long is still learning, but brings a unique play-making ability.
"A.J.'s the furthest behind mentally because he's only been here for a short period of time, but he has a knack for making the play work some way or another," Lester said. "He doesn't look at the right side, but then he ends up coming back and finding his target."
When Edouard returns, he will face the task of learning a new offense as a true freshman coming in late to camp. Lester said they'll be spending extra time working together in hopes of speeding up his learning curve.
It may be tougher for him to work his way into the competition, but as of now no one has emerged as the clear-cut leader.
Said Lester: "I think it's all between the ears for all of them until they mentally can think and go out there and play. … I'm just waiting for it to happen."
http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2014/08/backup_quarterback_battle.html
Syracuse, N.Y. —Through four practices, Syracuse hasn't made much headway in the backup quarterback battle, according to quarterbacks coach Tim Lester.
Between current competitors redshirt freshman Mitch Kimble, who entered camp with a slight lead, classmate Austin Wilson and true freshman AJ Long — freshman Alin Edouard is expected to join once he returns from a family/personal obligation — no one has stepped up yet.
"It's been up and down," Lester said. "The first two days I was really disappointed with all three of them. I didn't think any one of them really took a lead. I was really hoping someone would come out of the blocks. None of them did.
"Day 3 they all played really, really well. And Day 4, we'll see. I haven't graded the film yet."
Lester said that the key to improvement for all of them is mental understanding. The repetitions of reading defenses and going through progressions will help the actions become second nature.
"It's all between the ears," Lester says.
Beyond that, he gave a quick assessment of each of the three backup contenders currently in camp.
Lester praised Kimble's intelligence, which could be the key to becoming the frontrunner for the spot. He regularly scores well on Lester's tests and is capable of making most throws. He's also healthy again after a lower-back injury kept him sidelined for the first half of spring ball.
On Monday, Kimble said he's emphasizing using his legs better when he throws. Lester emphasized finding consistency.
"I need to see the consistency in his motion," Lester said. "When he's thinking, his technique goes to hell in a handbag. And then he's not as accurate with the ball.
"When it grooves, he's not thinking and plays comfortably, dropping back to throw the ball, it's pretty. He can do it. I know he can think through a lot of offense so I think we could run a lot of offense if he ever had to go in.
Lester said Wilson had a slow start to camp, but has come on in the last two days. He's making better first reads.
Wilson said on Monday that one of his focuses in camp is to gradually make each read faster.
And Long is still learning, but brings a unique play-making ability.
"A.J.'s the furthest behind mentally because he's only been here for a short period of time, but he has a knack for making the play work some way or another," Lester said. "He doesn't look at the right side, but then he ends up coming back and finding his target."
When Edouard returns, he will face the task of learning a new offense as a true freshman coming in late to camp. Lester said they'll be spending extra time working together in hopes of speeding up his learning curve.
It may be tougher for him to work his way into the competition, but as of now no one has emerged as the clear-cut leader.
Said Lester: "I think it's all between the ears for all of them until they mentally can think and go out there and play. … I'm just waiting for it to happen."
